National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers

Description

This folder contains records created/collected by the National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers, now United Neighborhood Centers of America, including correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, financial records, photographs, and other documents. The Federation, which was founded in 1911, included local settlement houses and neighborhood centers from across the United States and Canada. The records document the programs, methodology, member agencies, and administration of the Federation, which was known as the National Federation of Settlements from 1911 to 1949; National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers from 1949 to 1979; and United Neighborhood Center of America beginning in 1980. Information about issues and individuals makes this a key resource for the study of social welfare in twentieth century America. This folder contains records relating to the New Directions Ad Hoc Committee. The New Directions Committee was created to address the tensions and conflicts in the NFSNC organization during the late 1960s. It attempted to articulate settlement goals and to recommend new directions for the settlement movement. The committee held regional meetings in six cities and prepared five special-purpose reports. The Committee believed that NFS should continue to be based on local agency membership; that its help to members should focus more on innovative programs rather than on building an institution; and that it unite on a problem solving approach to urban conditions. Records in this folder include minutes, memoranda, research materials, data from studies, reports, correspondence, and a copy of the New Directions final report.

Record Contributed By

University of Minnesota Libraries